Help Bert Battle 16 Surgeries and Illness

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers, I am reaching out to you with a heavy heart. My beloved uncle, Bert Ailiff (AKA “Unc”), has been battling severe complications of diabetes, as well as kidney failure.

The last two years have been nonstop hospital stays and visits.

After having been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney failure, he continued to work full-time for 2 years while receiving dialysis treatment and waiting for a kidney transplant. Dialysis is physically exhausting, not to mention the mental toll. Ultimately, he lost his job, which, as we know, means loss of not just income, but healthcare.

After losing his job, he began to have complications related to diabetes. This resulted in 16 surgeries (you read that correctly, 16) over the last year, spending more than 6 months in the hospital. He has had half of each foot amputated. Costs of these surgeries and extended hospitalizations have wreaked havoc on his family, especially his wife, Beverly.

Beverly works full-time and is his caregiver. Having exhausted their savings, she is currently seeking part-time employment just to keep their mortgage and utilities paid.

Beverly’s mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer this past summer. She is a primary caregiver for her, too. In summary, she:

• has a full-time job

• is seeking a part-time job

• is a full-time caregiver to Bert, and

• is the primary caregiver to her mother.

Bert has been fitted with orthopedic shoes to allow him to walk with a walker. For an idea of the outrageous costs of healthcare, these shoes cost over $700 out of pocket. That is after insurance pays its portion. That’s just one in the laundry list of expenses not covered by insurance.

Get disability, right? Not so fast! They filed during the spring last year. They were told they were over a year away from receiving benefits. As of this writing, it is now over 400 days. He was told he is eligible for disability. After that determination, it is looking like 18 months from the time of filing. The SSA acknowledges that persons waiting for disability benefits “may experience homelessness.” It’s known, but nothing is done to expedite it!

Bert has always been generous and given back to his family, friends, and the community. As the lead singer of the band, WhiskerFish, he participated in many benefits that were held to help people suffering loss of their homes, recovering from major illness like cancer, and raising money for veterans.

The funds we raise will go toward:

• Ongoing dialysis treatments

• Physical therapy and rehabilitation services

• Medical equipment and home accessibility modifications

• Everyday living expenses as he focuses on recovery

I am asking for all of us to rally around Bert and Bev at this time.

PLEASE SHARE! You never know who might reach.

Gratefully,

Deanna